Morrissey, one-time frontman with The Smiths, has declined an offer from Channel 4 to record their annual alternative Christmas message.

The singer, who released his new album World Peace Is None Of Your Business (which you can preview on the right of the page) earlier this summer, was offered the chance to follow in the footsteps of Rory Bremner, Sacha Baron Cohen, Sharon Osbourne, Katie Piper and Jamie Oliver in delivering Channel 4's message, which is broadcast at the same time as Queen's Speech on Christmas Day, but declined the chance.

Speaking to Morrissey fanzine True To You, the singer said: "My view that the monarchy should be quietly dismantled for the good of England is reasonably well-known, but I don't think Christmas Day is quite the time to be trading slaps. The Queen should be allowed the impassioned trance of her annual address to the British people, if only to once again prove that, in her frozen posture, she has nothing to offer and nothing to say, and she has no place in modern Britain except as a figure of repression; no independent thought required."

He continued: "The Queen very well might be the most powerful woman in England, but she lacks the power to make herself loved, and the phony inflation of her family attacks all rational intellect. All over the world highly civilized peoples exist without the automatic condescension of a 'royal' family. England can do the same, and will find more respect for doing so."